Zachary Dowdle was selected by William Woods University students to be the recipient of the 2023 Louis D. Beaumont Dad's Association Distinguished Professor of the Year award.
Dowdle -- who is an assistant professor of history at WWU -- was presented with the award at the year-end academic honors ceremony.
The award is presented each year to a faculty member that has showcased an "outstanding dedication to teaching," a WWU release states.
Recipients of the Distinguished Professor of the Year award are nominated and chosen by the WWU students.
One student who nominated Dowdle for the award said he has engaging classes, is very involved in the community and strives to improve the student experience.
Another student who nominated Dowdle said he takes a subject that many find boring and turns it "into engaging stories that need to be heard," a release states.
Dowdle joined the WWU faculty in 2020. His areas of interest include 19th century politics, American slavery, antebellum economic development, reconstruction and reconciliation, and Missouri/Midwest history.
Some of the courses he teaches include early American history, revolutionary Mexico and modern U.S. history.
Dowdle received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 2019. He received his master's in history
Dowdle received his bachelor's degree in history in 2010 from Angelo St. University in San Angelo, Texas. He also received his master's degree in 2014 from Angel St. University.
He received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Missouri, Columbia, in 2019.